[mrsmith]

Using the reasoning of the OP, the government should give you the money to buy that wire. Then you’d have a ‘successful’ solar setup!

But it also shows a really successful application of solar: avoiding long runs of wire. If one can put up with the harsh limits of PV solar money can be saved at isolated sites.

[chrisser]

But it also shows a really successful application of solar: avoiding long runs of wire. If one can put up with the harsh limits of PV solar money can be saved at isolated sites.

I'm an advocate of solar, especially in rural areas. Our place isn't the ideal site because of topography, and we're lucky that the previous owner already has it cabled with a transformer right to the most likely use site. I'd just have to connect. If it weren't for that already being in place, I'd be looking at 100% solar.

That said, power is not reliable in rural areas and we'll need some sort of backup. Whether that's solar, fossil fuel, wind, or some combination is really going to be a fun project. And building out the rest of the site to be able to run on that backup will be even more interesting.

Now, we have a barn about 1000' away. Power company would need to run another string of poles and a transformer there in order to give me some lights. It's in a very sunny location. Solar there, at least for lights and maybe a few small power tools, would be a perfect permanent solution with perhaps a small generator augment for the dead of winter.